News

Large turnout in regards to water-taking permit

A sign marks the land where Dufferin Aggregates is expected to open a sand and gravel pit along West River Road South, near the intersection of Watts Pond Road, north of Paris. (MICHAEL PEELING, QMI Agency)

A grassroots group is asking Brant County council to oppose an application by Dufferin Aggregates for a permit to take water for its operation of a controversial gravel pit it wants to open north of Paris.

Dufferin has made the application to the Ministry of the Environment for a permit to take water for a wash pond to clean the gravel it plans to take from 642 acres of farmland north and south of Watts Pond Road.

It was awarded a licence for the pit 39 years ago. The permit application submitted last month is part of its plans to open the pit.

With about 50 members of Concerned Citizens of Brant filling the council chamber, group president Ron Norris called Tuesday for the county to stand against the permit application.

He said the wash pond represents a threat to ground water because it could introduce a high concentration of Atrazine in the pond.

He noted that in the permit application, the company's consultant said the anticipated Atrazine level will be between 0 and five parts per billion - normally within accepted standards.

"However, with the wash pond, they are going to take one million tons of material spread over hundreds of acres and wash it in a pond that only covers 12.5 acres," Norris said.

"This, naturally, has a multiplying effect on the concentration."

Norris noted that high concentrations of Atrazine could lead to a phenomenon called "endocrine disruptors" -- chemicals that interfere with the hormone system in humans.

He said the disruptors are known to cause learning disabilities, severe attention deficit disorder, brain development problems, deformations of the body and sexual development problems in both males and females.

Norris noted that council has supported the citizen group in calls for the Ministry of Natural Resources to review Dufferin's pit licence obtained in 1974, but the ministry has repeatedly rejected them.

In fact, council has twice sent letters to the MNR, Brant MPP Dave Levac has sent a letter, and the group has appealed to Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller's office for a review.

The ministry has rebuffed every call.

In its latest decision, the ministry said Dufferin's licence is in order and the company is following all approval procedures and regulations.

This time, Norris told council, "we are asking council to take a much more aggressive and proactive stance with the MNR in opposition to this licence and to address the concerns we and you have over our drinking water.

"We are also asking you to oppose the permit application and take decisive action against it."

Council voted to receive the presentation for information.

The permit application carries a 90-day comment period. The county is expected to register a comment.